Health Care Roles in Communication
HCA 230
Susan DiTaranto

Health Care Roles in Communication
Health care communication can be created by various influences together with personal goals, skills, cultural orientations, circumstantial factors, and thoughtfulness of other people’s opinions. Communication skills in a health care setting consist of: explanation of diagnosis, analysis and medication, linking the patient in the decision-making, communicating with other health care professionals and dealing with nervous patients. Communicating effectively is more than putting thoughts into words. Comprehending other people’s opinions and plainly expressing one’s own are important characteristics of communication. Kreps and Barbara Thornton (1992) define health communication as “the way [one] seek, process, and share health information,” (Pre', 2004).
In the Vivian scenario the major components of health communication present were, physician centered communication in which doctors do most of the talking; assertive behavior, on behalf of Vivian; blocking technique, the medical assistant; soothing surroundings the appearance of the office, and collaborative communication of each of the key players. Vivian was eager to schedule an appointment with a doctor. Vivian enters the waiting area of the new doctors’ office, she notices the plain interior design: gray walls, black chairs, and two notes on the walls stating, “Turn off cell phones” and “Have co-pay ready.” Vivian experienced collaborative communication when she tried to explain to the stress of her pain to the medical assistant. After being called back, Vivian’s visit with the doctor was less than what she expected. Physician centered communication problem is present; Vivian is not allowed to explain to the doctor or the medical assistant how she felt, nor describe the pain she is feeling. After the doctor had